What Do I Need to Know if I Am Pregnant in College?

College. A time when you study hard, build new friendships, and look toward your future. Most likely, an unexpected pregnancy wasn’t part of those plans. Right now, you may be feeling confused, isolated, and even frightened.

Not only does pregnancy, with symptoms like fatigue and nausea, make it harder to study, but you also worry about your future. The good news is the Lamb of God Maternity Home offers a safe place to figure out your next steps. You’re not alone.

A pregnancy doesn’t end your future; it just takes it down a different path. Let us help you sort through the possibilities. Set up a free and confidential consultation.

You Have Legal Rights as a Pregnant College Student

As a pregnant student, you are protected from discrimination under Title IX. Here are a few of your rights:

• The college must allow you to continue participating in classes and extracurricular activities without discrimination. 
• Excused absences for pregnancy and childbirth (doctor’s appointments, pregnancy-related sickness, etc.)
• No penalties to your academic and extracurricular status. 
• Your professors must allow you to make up missed work.
• The college must make special accommodations, such as a larger desk, more bathroom breaks, and access to elevators.

Read through Title IX to better understand your rights. Speak with your college’s Title IX representative or counselor and be prepared to stand up for your rights as a pregnant or parenting student.

Have You Considered Placing Your Baby for Adoption?

As you consider your future, ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my relationship with the baby’s father? 
• Will I have the financial and emotional support required to parent?
• Will raising this child make it harder to fulfill my academic goals?
• How do I feel about parenting at this time in my life?

Choosing to place your baby for adoption is not an easy choice, and it shouldn’t be. Many women are unaware of the changes adoption specialists have made over the past few decades. 

Today, the expectant mother makes all of the decisions. She chooses the adoptive parents who will raise her child and how much contact she wishes to have as her child grows. 

A birth mother cannot consent to adoption before the birth of her child. According to California law, after giving birth, she has 30 days to determine if adoption is the right choice. 

When choosing adoption, you will not be required to pay medical, hospital, or legal fees, and you’re entitled to receive necessary living expenses and counseling. In addition, Lamb of God provides the following:

• 24/7 Wrap-Around Care
• Healthcare Needs
• Spiritual Care
• Mentorship
• Career Guidance

Contact Lamb of God Maternity Home today. You can fill out our confidential online contact form, call us at 760-294-7969 during regular business hours, or call our 24/7 Crisis Line at 760-715-6463. There is never a time when we aren’t available to help you. Get in touch with us today!